Hydrogen storage device and hydrogen storage system

Abstract

A hydrogen storage device prevents localization of hydrogen occlusion alloy and ensures rapid discharge of hydrogen. The hydrogen storage device has a plurality of porous molded pieces arranged longitudinally at predetermined intervals. Conductive cushioning materials are inserted between the molded pieces and between the molded pieces and an adiabatic insulation material. The conductive cushioning materials include first conductive cushioning materials inserted between the adiabatic insulation material and upper and lower end surfaces of the molded pieces and second conductive cushioning materials inserted between left and right end surfaces of the adiabatic insulation material. Disposed at opposed ends of a row of the molded pieces are movable urging electrodes which can move in response to dimensional changes of the molded pieces resulting from their volume changes and which urge the molded pieces to constantly maintain physical contact between the molded pieces and lids.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A hydrogen storage device comprising: 
       a container;  
       a molded piece made of powder of a hydrogen occlusion alloy, and held within the container; and  
       a temperature control system arranged and connected to control temperatures of the molded piece by Joule heat by supplying electric current through said molded piece.  
     
     
       2. A hydrogen storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the temperature control system comprises electrodes connected to supply electric current to the molded piece.  
     
     
       3. A device according to  claim 2  further comprising a cushioning member positioned to hold the molded piece in the container and cushion contact between the molded piece and an inner surface of the container resulting from a volume change of the molded piece. 
     
     
       4. A device according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
       a plurality of molded pieces are arranged along a predetermined direction in the container, the cushioning members have insulating properties and are disposed between adjacent ones of the molded pieces, and the electrodes are disposed in an opposed manner along a direction of arrangement of the plurality of molded pieces, and wherein the electrodes comprise variable mechanisms varying their length in accordance with volume changes of the molded pieces and urging mechanisms, and wherein the electrodes maintain constant contact with at least a portion of the plurality of molded pieces.  
     
     
       5. A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the electrodes maintain constant contact with the end portions of the molded pieces. 
     
     
       6. A device according to  claim 4 , wherein contact surfaces of the electrodes correspond in shape to contact surface of the molded pieces. 
     
     
       7. A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the electrodes maintain constant contact with opposite ones of the molded pieces as viewed in the predetermined direction. 
     
     
       8. A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the cushioning members are disposed between the molded pieces and the inner surface of the container in a direction perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the molded pieces, and wherein at least one of the cushioning members is disposed between the molded pieces and the inner surface of the container in a direction different from that of the other cushioning members. 
     
     
       9. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature control system is provided separately from the molded pieces. 
     
     
       10. A hydrogen storage device according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
       the temperature control means comprises electrode means for supplying electric current to the molded piece.  
     
     
       11. A hydrogen storage device comprising: 
       a container;  
       a molded piece made of powder of a hydrogen occlusion alloy, and held within the container;  
       a temperature control system arranged and connected to control temperatures of the molded piece and comprising electrodes connected to supply electric current to the molded piece, wherein the temperature control system comprises a power source that supplies electric power to the electrodes and a variable internal resistance mechanism connected between the power source and the electrodes.  
     
     
       12. A hydrogen storage system comprising: 
       a plurality of hydrogen storage devices, each of the plurality of hydrogen storage devices comprising a container; a molded piece made of powder of a hydrogen occlusion alloy, and held within the container; and a temperature control system arranged and connected to control temperatures of the molded piece and comprising electrodes connected to supply electric current to the molded piece;  
       a power source that supplies electric power to the hydrogen storage devices; and  
       a resistance control mechanism connected between the power source and the plurality of hydrogen storage devices.  
     
     
       13. A hydrogen storage device comprising: 
       a container;  
       a molded piece made of powder of a hydrogen occlusion alloy, and held within the container;  
       temperature control means for controlling temperatures of the molded piece; and  
       cushioning means for holding the molded pieces in the container and for cushioning contact between the molded piece and an inner surface of the container resulting from a volume change of the molded piece.  
     
     
       14. A device according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
       a plurality of molded pieces are arranged along a predetermined direction in the container, the cushioning means have insulating properties and are disposed between adjacent ones of the molded pieces, and the electrode means comprise variable means for varying their length in accordance with volume changes of the molded pieces and urging means and maintain constant contact with at least a portion of the plurality of molded pieces.  
     
     
       15. A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the electrode means maintain constant contact with the end portions of the molded pieces. 
     
     
       16. A device according to  claim 14 , wherein contact surfaces of the electrode means correspond in shape to contact surface of the molded pieces. 
     
     
       17. A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the electrode means maintain constant contact with opposite ones of the molded pieces as viewed in the predetermined direction. 
     
     
       18. A device according to  claim 17 , wherein the cushioning means are disposed between the molded pieces and the inner surface of the container in a direction perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the molded pieces, and wherein at least one of the cushioning means is disposed between the molded pieces and the inner surface of the container in a direction different from that of the other cushioning means. 
     
     
       19. A device according to  claim 13 , wherein the temperature control means is provided separately from the molded pieces. 
     
     
       20. A hydrogen storage device comprising: 
       a container;  
       a molded piece made of powder of a hydrogen occlusion alloy, and held within the container;  
       temperature control means for controlling temperatures of the molded piece and comprising electrode means for supplying electric current to the molded piece, wherein the temperature control means comprises a power source that supplies electric power to the electrode means and variable internal resistance means that makes an internal surface of the molded pieces approximately equal to an internal resistance of the power source.  
     
     
       21. A hydrogen storage system comprising: 
       a plurality of hydrogen storage devices, each of the plurality of hydrogen storage devices comprising a container; a molded piece made of powder of a hydrogen occlusion alloy, and held within the container; and temperature control means for controlling temperatures of the molded piece;  
       a power source that supplies electric power to the hydrogen storage devices; and  
       resistance control means for making a total internal resistance of the molded pieces contained in the hydrogen storage devices approximately equal to an internal resistance of the power source.